Driving cross country in the 86

[drz400dude]

Monday was my last day of work in Palmdale, CA. At 1530 I hopped in my 2013 FR-S and headed for North Carolina. Let me just start by saying if you have any other choice besides driving your 86 from coast to coast, do that instead! I wanted to take I-40 across, but due to snow I had to go further south on the 10, then the 20.

My first leg took me from Palmdale to just east of Tucson, AZ. It was raining pretty good most of the way. Luckily I rain-Xed the shit out of my windshield, side windows, and side mirrors. I HIGHLY recommend it. The only time I had to use my wipers was when there was a car in front of me throwing light mist. I also had some tool in Phoenix in a red tC pull up next to me on the interstate (in the rain) revving his factbox muffler at me. I arrived at 2330 at a truck stop, threw the seat back, draped my jacket over me and tried to sleep. It was uncomfortable and the steering wheel kept getting in the way. I don't recommend the drivers side to sleep in.

I woke up at 0430, gassed up the car, grabbed some snacks, and headed out. My goal for Tuesday was to make it to Shreveport, LA. All the way through NM and TX in one day..... Luckily the weather cleared up and I was able to do 75-80 the whole way. I only stopped about every 3-3.5 hours to get gas, use the restroom, and stretch a little.

After one gas stop in BFE, Texas, I was getting back on the freeway when I heard a terrible noise, followed by a check engine light. . I pull off and check the code with my code reader. Cool! Just a cat system code caused by my catless headers. But WTF was that noise? Then I remembered leaving the gas station there was a mud puddle I had gone through. It must have just been the mud drying up and coming loose on the freeway. . It just made a terrible noise hitting all kinds of stuff on the way out. The noise plus the CEL made my heart sink. But it's all good! On to LA!

I roll through Shreveport and find a place to stop just outside of town at around 2300. This time I throw everything in my back seat and hop in the passenger seat. This way I can at least roll on my side if I want. It also let me scoot my seat forward more, and allowing the seat to recline more. I also put up my sunshade to block the rest stop lighting. I slept a little better, but woke up at 0500 hurting, but fairly well rested.

From there I drove another 17 hours to make it to my new home in North Carolina. The only slow down was an accident on 85 (I think) going north out of Atlanta. My GPS rerouted me to stay on the 20 to I-95, then up to NC. Again, only stopped every 3-3.5 hours for gas, food, and ass/ lower back relief. I arrived around 2200 and pretty much went right to bed.

All in all I have to say the roads weren't too bad. The worst part of the I-20 BY FAR was Shreveport, LA! Huge potholes everywhere, and where they tried to fill in potholes where overfilled, turning them into ramps. None of the road was flat, it felt like going through a woop section on my dirt bike. These roads would have been rough even in the smoothest Caddy.

But I have my baby with me! Thanks for reading.

[8RZ]

Glad you made it safely.

I love the seats/support in these cars, I can make a 10 hour trip without any pains in my back, unlike some of my previous cars.

[Tcoat]

So why exactly do you say not to drive the FRS? I see nothing in there that would be an issue and is any different than day to day driving in anyplace other than California (and maybe Florida).

[Sapphireho]

I wouldn't hesitate to drive my twin across the country. Only difference is I would sleep in motels/hotels. $36 for a Motel 6 is worth every penny!


Glad you made it safe.

[Summerwolf]

Having made a similar drive multiple times, I can say I try to avoid Louisiana at all costs.


Texas is pretty boring to drive through, and some of the worst drivers in the states. I did hit a Jackalope on the highway there once though.....always thought they were mythical.


New Mexico, I hope you stopped at Roswell, just for the fun of it. I always make it a planned stop just because. It is a small town, obviously the main source of income is UFO based, but it breaks up the drive and is kind of fun to eat at an alien themed McDonalds.


That's quite a move, why'd you do it? Congrats on arriving safely!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Having made a similar drive multiple times, I can say I try to avoid Louisiana at all costs.


Texas is pretty boring to drive through, and some of the worst drivers in the states. I did hit a Jackalope on the highway there once though.....always thought they were mythical.


New Mexico, I hope you stopped at Roswell, just for the fun of it. I always make it a planned stop just because. It is a small town, obviously the main source of income is UFO based, but it breaks up the drive and is kind of fun to eat at an alien themed McDonalds.


That's quite a move, why'd you do it? Congrats on arriving safely!

They are mythical. Maybe you hit a jack rabbit but no jackalope.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Having made a similar drive multiple times, I can say I try to avoid Louisiana at all costs.


Texas is pretty boring to drive through, and some of the worst drivers in the states. I did hit a Jackalope on the highway there once though.....always thought they were mythical.


New Mexico, I hope you stopped at Roswell, just for the fun of it. I always make it a planned stop just because. It is a small town, obviously the main source of income is UFO based, but it breaks up the drive and is kind of fun to eat at an alien themed McDonalds.


That's quite a move, why'd you do it? Congrats on arriving safely!

First thing my wife and I did after buying our FR-S was to go on a 3000 mile road trip.


I graduated high school in Roswell from the same school my father did: NMMI

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I graduated high school in Roswell from the same school my father did: NMMI

That explains sooooo much!

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

They are mythical. Maybe you hit a jack rabbit but no jackalope.

Nope, it ran out in front of me, reared up, and then charged at the vehicle with his horns clearly down and attacking the front license plate. I still hear the screams as he got dragged by the control arm for a second.


That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Nope, it ran out in front of me, reared up, and then charged at the vehicle with his horns clearly down and attacking the front license plate. I still hear the screams as he got dragged by the control arm for a second.


That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

You got off lucky then!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

So why exactly do you say not to drive the FRS? I see nothing in there that would be an issue and is any different than day to day driving in anyplace other than California (and maybe Florida).

I was going to ask the same question @drz400dude. I've made multiple trips in my FRS with were 16 to 18 hours in a day with no issues. I can't think of a better car to do it in.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by drz400dude

Let me just start by saying if you have any other choice besides driving your 86 from coast to coast, do that instead!

I drive long distances in my BRZ frequently. Your mistake was sleeping in your car and trying to ram the trip into too few days. That's not the car's fault. Most people would end up in knots doing that in anything smaller than a motor home.

I once drove my old hearse 19 hours from Brooklyn to Tallahassee with a four hour break to sleep (stretched out in the back of the hearse). Not even that big heavy Cadillac could prevent me from feeling like I had been beaten senseless by the end of it. An extra day on the road and a cheap motel is worth the money.

Originally Posted by drz400dude

The worst part of the I-20 BY FAR was Shreveport, LA! Huge potholes everywhere, and where they tried to fill in potholes where overfilled, turning them into ramps. None of the road was flat, it felt like going through a woop section on my dirt bike. These roads would have been rough even in the smoothest Caddy.

That's not just Shreveport. That's all of Louisiana. I used to drive my BRZ all over Louisiana (to practically every small town in the state) for my job, putting 30K miles per year on the car. The roads are so bad there that you actually notice something is weird when you get onto a good road. They're easily the worst roads I've driven in 30+ states.

[e_lunatic]

Made the same drive (twice) from Corona, CA to Charlotte, NC and then back again in my 1991 toyota pickup. great drive and I would love to do it again but i likely wouldnt want to do it in the frs

[Pbrown]

this summer I am planning a seven day trip to the tail of the dragon and area . Did 5000km a couple of years ago to Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Cape Breton (cabot trail- worth the drive folks). FRS is a dream on long drives.
FWIW got the green light from wifey last night to buy a Supra. Just need to see cost and lease rate ( see Civic Type R for interest rate gauging.) If both are reasonable I will be ordering as soon as information becomes available.